20/20 Finds the Source of Fake Pot and it’s Not Local

Packages of synthetic marijuana are one place you won’t find a “Made in China” sticker. But in a report airing tonight, ABC’s 20/20 discovered that the pouches of dried leaves and herbs—sold as incense—probably should.

The “incense” gets its punch from a variety of synthetic cannabinoids sprayed onto the dried plant matter and ABC’s investigation traced the source of the chemical back to suppliers in China.

A few weeks ago we reported on the dangers of smoking products such as “K4” and “Spice Gold.” In most states they are completely legal and sold in convenience stores and smoking shops. Because they are marked “Not for human consumption,” the FDA does not regulate them and no ID is required to purchase them. You don’t have to be 18 years old to buy a pack of fake pot.

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Ryan Schill is the editor of the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange. In 2012 he wrote a comics journalism piece about the ongoing U.S. immigration debate, published in partnership with Cartoon Movement. His 2011 story about a case of misdiagnosed child abuse won first place in the non-deadline writing category of the Society of Professional Journalists Green Eyeshade Awards for Excellence in Journalism. Ryan is completing his MA in professional writing at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, and has a BS in media studies. His research interests include experimental journalism forms, journalism ethics and philosophy, theories of literary journalism and the intersections of social justice and journalism.